Monthly Archives: December 2023

The Naming and Circumcision of JesusThe celebration of this scriptural festival marks three events: firstly, the naming of the infant; secondly, the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham ‘and his children for ever’, thus Christ’s keeping of the Law; and thirdly, traditionally the first shedding of the Christ’s blood. The most significant ofContinue reading “Oremus for Monday, January 1, 2024”

Antiphon1 Ant. Unto us a child is born, *unto us a son is given.Dominion is on his shoulderand his name shall be called the Angel of Great Counsel.V. O sing a new song to the Lord, *for he has worked wonders.His right hand and his holy arm *have brought salvation. Isaiah 9; Psalm 98 Almighty God,you have pouredContinue reading “Oremus for Sunday, December 31, 2023”

Josephine ButlerJosephine Butler (née Grey) was born in April 1828, and baptised on this day that year, in Northumberland. She married an Anglican priest in 1852. She became incensed by the way contemporary society treated prostitutes, most of whom were forced into such activity through desperate poverty. From 1869, she campaigned for the repeal ofContinue reading “Oremus for Saturday, December 30, 2023”

Thomas BecketThomas was born in London in 1118, of a family of merchants. After a good education he served as clerk to another burgess then entered the service of Archbishop Theobald of Canterbury. Thomas proved himself an excellent administrator and skilled diplomat. In 1155 he was appointed chancellor by King Henry II. For several yearsContinue reading “Oremus for Friday, December 29, 2023”

The Holy InnocentsHerod ‘the Great’ was appointed King of the Jews by the Roman authorities in Palestine and he proved to be ruthlessly efficient in his thirty-three years of dealing with his subjects. In Matthew’s gospel, he tried to persuade the Magi, to whom he played the host on their journey seeking the one ‘whoContinue reading “Oremus for Thursday, December 28, 2023”

Saint John the EvangelistWhether or not John the Apostle and John the Evangelist are one and the same, the Church honours on this day the one who proclaims Jesus as the Word made flesh and who is ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’. John was one of the sons of Zebedee, along with James and Peter,Continue reading “Oremus for Wednesday, December 27, 2023”

Saint StephenIn the book of the Acts of the Apostles, Stephen is described as one of the seven deacons whose job it is to care for the widows in the early Church in Jerusalem. His eloquent speech before the Sanhedrin, in which he shows the great sweep of Jewish history as leading to the birthContinue reading “Oremus for Tuesday, December 26, 2023”

Antiphon1 Ant. Yours are the heavens, yours is the earth, * the world and the fullness thereof have been founded by you. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.V. A God to be feared in the council of the holy ones, *great and awesome to all around him. Psalm 89 Almighty God, O Immanuel,OContinue reading “Oremus for Monday, December 25, 2023”

Antiphon1 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,and all flesh shall see the salvation which comes from our God.V. The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, *the world, and those who dwell in it.It is he who set it on the seas; *on the rivers he made it firm. Isaiah 40, Psalm 24 Purify ourContinue reading “Oremus for Sunday, December 24, 2023”

AntiphonChant https://tinyurl.com/y9mr4gll O Emmanuel,Rex et legifer noster,exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster. O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Saviour: Come and save us, O Lord our God. O Immanuel,child of promise and sign of hope,you come from a distance far beyond our reach,yetContinue reading “Oremus for Saturday, December 23, 2023”